Like Maclean, I know that rivers flow over rocks from the basement of time, but a merging traffic lane is a more immediate than the epochs of geology.

A voice on my left shoulder says,

"You've moved 10 feet in 20 minutes, yet that fucker wants to cut in front of you? Inch up man! Inch up!"

A voice on my right shoulder reasons,

"Go ahead merge at the last second in front of all of those poor schlubs. Studies show it's the most efficient means of funneling traffic."

Both voices make sense, but in the immediacy of the moment my emotional left shoulder overrules my logical right.

The good news is that I left all of this traffic madness behind over a year ago when I decided to leave the twentieth century parked at home in the garage. I've opted instead for foot, bike, bus, and light rail.